{% include "includes/auth/janrain/signIn_traditional.html" with message='It looks like you are already verified. If you still have trouble signing in, you probably need a new confirmation link email.' %}

Five reasons the Gators are streaking toward the Final Four

Bradley Beal and the Gators stormed past Marquette and will face Louisville in the Elite Eight on Saturday. (AP photo)

Florida was on the brink of a lost season when it dropped six of 10 heading into the NCAA Tournament. But the upstart Gators appear to have regained their strength and are now a game away from the Final Four. How are they doing it?

1. Their defense is inescapable.

In three rounds, the Gators have outscored their opponents by a total of 70 points. Their opposition is averaging 51 points per game and shooting 31.5 percent. No team has made more than six three-pointers against them. Marquette, the highest-scoring team in the Big East this season, shot a pitiful 30.8 percent from the field Thursday.

2. Bradley Beal is NBA-ready and clearly their star.

At 18 years old, he is the team’s most versatile scorer and best perimeter defender. He has led them in scoring twice and rebounding twice during the tourney. His numbers: 16.3 points, 8.7 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game, plus a 65.4 shooting percentage. UF fans better enjoy him while they’ve got him because he will be a top-10 pick in the upcoming draft.

3. They are catching some breaks.

The Gators’ luck is undeniable, and there is nothing embarrassing about good fortune. They fell to a No. 7 seed and were sent all the way to Omaha, Neb., for the first week, but by playing in the upset-riddled West region they will avoid facing a No. 1 or No. 2 seed. Instead, they drew Virginia, Norfolk State, Marquette and Louisville.

4. Their inside shooting is compensating for their trouble from three.

There is a perception of Florida that it has to hit threes to win. It’s logical based on the way the Gators are constructed, but it is not proving true in the tourney. UF is hitting just 26.9 percent from three, well below the 39 percent it shot prior to the tourney. However, the Gators are making up for it by making 67.8 percent of their shots inside the arc. They were a shade over 50 percent on two-point shots before this run.

5. They are a dominant rebounding force.

It’s hard to believe such a guard-heavy team with only one true post player can be so good at rebounding. The Gators have outrebounded all three of their tournament opponents by a total margin of 34. And they are averaging 12.3 offensive rebounds per game.